Lawmakers seek repeal on international drivers' law

Outcry by Canadians prompts a scramble to correct legal misstep and overturn a 2012 law.

Lloyd Dunkelberger

Florida lawmakers are moving to correct a 2012 law that caused a controversy among the largest group of foreign tourists who visit the state each year.

The Senate Transportation Committee and the House Economic Affairs Committee took up bills Thursday designed to immediately repeal the law, which took effect Jan. 1, that requires Canadians and other foreign travelers to obtain international permits to drive in Florida.

Although state transportation officials said they would not enforce the law, it has created mass confusion with thousands of Canadians scrambling to obtain the international driving permits from their country.

The controversy also came at the peak of the winter tourism season, impacting the Canadians who represented more than a third of the more than 10 million foreign visitors who came to Florida last year.

Both the Senate and House measures would immediately repeal the law once the governor signs it. And the bills makes the repeal retroactive to Jan. 1.

It would return the driving law to its former requirement that Canadians can drive in Florida if they have a valid license from their country.

Florida Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jeffrey Brandes said the bill may be on the Senate floor for a vote by next week. Likewise, Rep. Daniel Davis said he expected an early House vote on the measure. Both the Florida House Economic Affiars and Senate Transportation panels unanimously backed the repeal measures.

Gov. Rick Scott said he "absolutely" was prepared to sign it immediately.

The Partnership for Florida's Tourism holds its annual Florida Tourism Day at the Capitol on Wednesday March 13.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be one of dozens of tourism officials visiting the Capitol next Wednesday for the annual event known as Florida Tourism Day.

Falcione said it would be “awesome, great timing” if the legislators could undo the international driving permit before then.

“We compete with Spain. We compete with Greece. So we don't want any kind of additional requirement to visit our destination that would lower our competitive edge. So we hope the state makes the right decision here and repeals this.”

When the driving permit flap first came to light last month, it upset John and Terry Blahut of Mississauga, Ontario, who drove to Venice as usual in November and had been tooling around Sarasota County without an International Driving permit since the law went into effect on Jan. 1.

With some anxiety, John Blahut checked with his Canadian insurance carrier. He was assured that his coverage was intact, because Florida had announced it would not enforce the law.

“It has been entertaining for us,” said John Blahut. “We know that in Florida, there are different things that happen down here that don't happen anywhere else. I would put this in that category. Yeah, I would.”

Virginia Haley, president of the regional tourism promotional agency, Visit Sarasota County, said “I am just pleased with the responsiveness of the legislature. Obviously it was part of a large comphensive bill, and was overlooked when it was passed. I think the message to our Canadian visitors is one that shows they care, and that we hope they feel welcome.”